The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-12

before the hosts toilet was COM
pleted another visitor arrived-Al-
exander Dimitry, who, by the way,
died only two or three years ago
and he was invited to join the others
in drink. Dimitry was an accom-
plished scholar and polished gen
tleman. He was of Greek descent,
had been editor of the New Orleans
Be-, professor in the college at Baton
Rouge, La, had written some re-
markably clever letters descriptive
of the monuments, scenery, social
customs, etc., of the chief cities Of
Italy, and been connected with the
Postoffice Department in this city; as
State Superintendent of the Public
Schools of Louisiana, he had greatly
improved the system of education.
In 1856 he came to Washington and
was a translator for the State De-
partment until he was appointed
Minister to Nicaragua and Costa RIGA
by Buchanan. Lincoln removed him
and he was very bitter against the
President and against the North, and
soon after his return went to Rich
mond and entered Che service of the
Confederate Governmet. He and
Meagher, however, were personal
friends, although their feeling toward
the Union cause was so different.
In few minutes the converse
ton drifted into discussion of the
state of the country, and Dimitry,
getting excited, said that the chief
cause of the trouble was the imbe-
cllity of the man in the White House
and the servile conduct Of the imbe-
Giles who did his bidding"
This remark was like fire to gun
powder in its effect upon Father Tom
Quinn. 'Sorp he exclaimed, jump
ing to his feet; if ye say that I'm an
imbecile ye're d-n liar.
Mr.. Dimitry replied with spirit,
his hot Southern blood heated with
the whisky boiling within him, and
he said something in a very insult
ing manner about Father Quinn's
putting the coat on if it fitted him.
Father Quinn pulled off his own
coat in such great haste that he tore
some of the buttons off, and squaring
off before Mr.. Dimitry, shook his fist
in his face and said:
Pm an humble Irish priest, but
I'm an Irish gentleman, and if ye
want satisfaction I'll give it ye right
here, with pistols, swords, or any
| other weapon We may choose, We mlnC
that sor2"
"How far this might have gone
but for Meagber's interference there
is no telling, for it was no uncom-
mon thing in those days for a discus
sion oil this kind to end with black
eyes. But Father Tom Quinn was
GAINED down by his friends, resumec
his coat, took another drink, and
casting glance of scorn at Dimitry,
left. After he had gone the latter
assuming a most pompous air, anC
speaking very deliberately, deploret
that the glorious Mother Church
should be disgraced by a drunken
Irish priest. -,
"Moagher, who sympathized will
Father Quinn, and yet was not un
mindful of the rules of hospitality
could not forbear replying that ht
didn't thinkNthe church had ocea
sion to be ashamed of that particular
Irish priest, who in that one in
stance, at least, seemed to have go
the best of the Southern gentle
man.
Among the recent visitors t!
Washington and to the Cosmos CluI
was the Hon. John B. Haskins, o
New York. How he and Mr.. McEl
hone did live over the exciting
scenes just before the beginning o
hostilities. Haskins, who was
member of the House of Repre-
sentatives, wasn't afraid of the
Southern fire eaters, and the drop
ping OF a pistol from his pocket ON,
day when he was making a speed
caused a great sensation. He didn'
stop to pick it up, but kicked it on
side with defiant remark and wen
on. Such scenes as that are not wit
messed in Congress nowadays. III
appearance of a shooting-iron IN tn
Capitol would fairly convulse tn
nation. We have advanced in civil
ization since those, days and shal
never go back.
Ii you want to be proud OF tn
nations capital visit it in May.
Y. l.. WHITE,